Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

—we must all be concerned about this area of health because it is everyone's concern. Out of a total of 91,906 women eligible for screening, 68,184 were screened, representing an uptake in the programme of 74%, with 544 cases of cancer detected. This level of uptake in the programme must be welcomed.

In early 2002 a multidisciplinary validation visit was carried out by the European network of reference centres for breast cancer screening charged with external validation of the screen mammography centres. Its report indicates the national breast screening programme is operating to a high level clinically, professionally and organisationally in the screening, diagnosing and treatment of breast cancer.

The Labour Party motion refers to the winter vomiting virus, which, as everyone knows, is highly contagious. The public has a major role to play in this regard. Infection control officers have been appointed in hospitals where there has been an outbreak and, in many instances, such officers were already in place. In the event of an outbreak, members of the public when visiting a hospital, irrespective of its location, should take cognisance of the instructions given by the hospital authorities and, in particular, infection control officers.